Method of and apparatus for thermal regulation.



. A. G. WATER-HOUSE. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THERMAL REGULATION.

1 APPLIOATION I'ILED Nov. 29, 1909.

, 3 v I Patented 0011.18, 1910.

If Ivx/ I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADDISON G. WLTEBHOUSlE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THEODORE I.BOUBNE, TRUSTEE, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THERllIAL REGULATION.

tion, evaporation or other treatment of liquids by heat, it isfrequently desirable to maintain the liquid at a substantiallypredetermined temperature for a'suitable period of time, or during itsflow, either continuously or intermittently, through .a suitable heateror boiler. For such purpose a con fined material, such as alcohohthatboils at a temperature below the temperature of the liquid beingtreated, has been placed in thermal relation to such liquid, whereby thetemperature of such treated liquid impartsto such volatile material apressure capable of governing a valve which controls the flow of liquidto and from such heater or boiler. But such volatile material dependswholly for its action upon the temperature of the liquid being treated,and is subject to disturbing influences, whereby the regulation of theflow of the liquidto be treated may vary within a wider range than maybe desired.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for regulatingthe flow of liquid to and from a place where the same is to be treatedand its temperature maintained within a substantially predeterminedrange, which means will not be materially affected by disturbinginfluences, and whereby the pressure generated for performing work, suchas for .controlling the flow of fluid, may be readily determined and controlled in accordance with the range of desired temperature of theliquid being treated. In carrying out my invention I provide a chamberin operative communication with a movable member, such as a diaphragm or,7 piston, adapted for operating a valve or performing other mechanicalwork, which chamber is more. or less filled with a desired fluid, suchas one having a constant condition, such as water, and placed in thermalcommunication with the fluid the temperature of which isto be controlledor limited, with means for applying heat directly to said chamberindependent of the tempera- Speciflcatiou of Letters Patent. PatentedOct. 18, 19.10. Application filed November 29',--'19o9. Serial No.580,295.

ture of the fluid with which such chamber is in thermal relation, wherebthe tem erature of the water or fluid wit in said 0 amher is raisedabove the temperature of the fluid that is in thermal relation therewithand the'temperature of which is to be regulated or limited, whichincreased temperature is utilized to control the flow of the fluid beingtreated or performing other mechanical work.

My invention also comprises novel details of improvement that will bemore fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, I have illustrated myinvention capable of use for distillation in a continuous manner ofdesired properties more volatile than the liquid containing the same,such as the production of alcohol from a wash or mash, and wherein theresidual liquid is caused to flow from the heater or boiler afteralcohol has been evaporated therefrom, it being understood that myinvention is equally applicable for use 'in controlling the temperatureof liquidcontaining other desired properties to be obtained bydistillation or evaporation, also for sterilization ofliquids andanalogous purposes, or for raising such liquid to and maintaining it atany predetermined tem perature, such as may be required for hot-- waterheaters-used for domestic purposes.

At A is indicated a boiler or heater, which may be of any suitable orwell known construction, the same being shown provided with an inletpipe 1 and an outlet pipe 2, the products of distillation being carriedoff through one or more pipes 3, orin any suitable manner. Heat may beapplied to boiler A by burner B, or in any well known manner.

My improvements are shown as adapted for controlling the flow of liquidto and from boiler or heater'A, although my improvements may be used fordoing other work, such as for controlling the flow of gas for heatingthe boiler, or for regulating condensation of the products ofdistillation.

As illustrated, my improvements are adapted to cause the fluid in theboiler to be maintained at a substantially predetermined. or constanttemperature within a desired range, and comprise means for maintaining aclosed bodfbf fluid in thermal comprising relation to the fluid in theboiler, means for heating said closed body of fluid above thetemperature of the fluid in the boiler, and means for employing thepressure of steam or vapor generated from such closed body of fluid forcontrolling the flow of the fluid to and from the boiler A. To this endI have shown a thermo-dynamic regulator a chamber or tube C shownlocated wit in boiler A and having an extension or exterior art C, and aconduit or pipe D. Pipe communicates with a chamber or recess E locatedat one side of a movable member, such as a diaphragm F. Such diaphragmis shown beneath the cap G of the casmgIG, which diaphragm acts u n thestem of the movable member of valve H. ValveH is shown located in theline of pipe 1, 1 through which fluid, flows into boiler A, althoughsaid valve can, if preferred, be located in the line of the dischargepipe 2. Suitable fluid, such as water, on that which may have a boilingint which is the 'same or above that of die. fluid W being treated, isplaced in chamber C, or a part thereof, so that the fluid in saidchamber will be in thermal contact with or relation to the fluid W inboiler or heater A, whereby the heat of the fluid W will control thetemperature of the fluid or vapor in chamber C. Heat is applied to thefluid in chamber C independent of the fluid in boiler A, for whichurpose, as shown, heat is applied to extension G, ex-' terior to boiler-or heater A. I have,shown a gas burner J for applying heat toe'xtension 0, although it will be understood that heat from the source Bmay be applied to extension C, if preferred, as by placing saidextension within thezone of the heat of B, or in other suitable manner.The heat represented by ,J, I term, for convenience, an

auxiliary heater. I am thus enabled to apply a constant or standard heatto the fluid 1n the thermal-regulator irrespective of the termalrelation thereto of heat from the fluid in or derived from boiler A,whereby such heat applied to chamber or extension C increases thetemperature of the fluid therein sli htly above the temperature of thein boiler A, so that such temperature increased above the temperature ofthe fluid in the boiler may generate vapor or steam in thethermo-regulator at a pressure which the fluid in boiler A would notproduce, and such pressure is transmitted through the pipe or tube D, orby other means of transmission, to chamber E to act ?on or-bulgediaphragm F and open valve .It will be understood that as fluid inchamber- C- is in thermal relation to the fluid iW in boiler A thelatter fluid has a as modifying effect upon the heat applied at Jserving to prevent a temperature in the thermal-regulator that would beexcessive or beyond that desired, for as the heat is communicated from Jto the fluid' in the extension C such fluid is prevented from rising toohigh in. temperature by the thermal relation thereto of the fluid W inthe boiler, according to the amount of heat applied at J. A pressure inthe thermal regulator dependent upon its confined fluid reaching itsboiling point may thus be obtained or prevented to any desired extent.

An advantage of m invention is that by supplying the therma regulatorwith fluid having a boiling point'at or above that of l the fluid W inthe boiler a relatively moderate heat applied at J may be utilized tocause a relatively slight pressure upon the piston or diaphragm. Forinstance, if a fluid having a boiling point at or about 212 F.isvtreated in the boller and a. corres onding fluid is placed in thethermal-re iator, a temperature in the regulator may e produced by theheat applied thereto at J which is above the temperature attainable bythe fluid W in the boiler so as to create a pressure at the dia hrawhile the temperature of the flui W in the boiler is just below. itsboiling point, and at which temperature such fluid W is to bemaintained.

Hence, to prevent the fluid W in the boiler from rising to its boilingpoint, the pressure in the re ulator derived by reason of the heat at JW111 control the-valve, for such temperature preponderating over anytemerature that can be imparted to the reguator by the fluid W in theboiler, beyond the limit to which fluid W can or should be raised, isdepended upon to. regulate the flow of the fluid W as distinguished froma pressure that only can be generated from the heat of the fluid W inthe absence. of auxiliary heat applied to theregulator. Increase ordecrease of the heat J will cause a corresponding pressure in chamber Eto 4 work the valve H, and the valve in turn will change the rate atwhich the supply and discharge of fluid W is regulated, and this ratedetermines the temperature to which the fluid W is raised, whichtemperature in return modifies the efl'ect of the heat J. Therefore, bychanging or adjustin the heat J acorresponding effect will to low in thetemperature of fluid WV, which can be brought to and maintained at anytemperature required by such an adjustment of heat J. Pressure upon thediaphragm is counteracted or permltted. to act byv any suitable means,such as a weighted lever K that acts upon stem H to normally kee valve Hclosed. The weight K may be a justed upon lever K to coactEwit-h thepressure in the regulator in such manner that any increase of pressurein chamber E, occurring with the rise of temperature of fluid W in theboiler, will cause the opening of valve-H to admit fresh fluid to boilerA until the temperature of the fluid therein is reduced to such anextent as will cause a corresponding reduction of temperature andpressure in the regulator to permit closing ofvalve H, and so on,'or thewelght being constant the heat at J may be tempered with a like result,whereby the temperature of the fluid in boiler A is maintained at asub-" stantially predetermined degree or withi'n a desired range of suchtemperature. I am thus enabled to limit the heat of the fluid in theboiler within av relatively small range of any desired temperature. Suchgovernlng or controlling of the flow of the fluid through the boiler andits temperature therein is adapted to be eifected by reason of the factthat the-controllable heat at J enables the production of a pressure atthe mechanical part that operates the valve in excess of such pressureas can be produced by the temperature of the fluid being treated owingto such fluid being limited in temperature by the escape of heat ofvaporizatlon.

While I have shown my improvements as applicable to governing the-valvethat controls the flow of fluid through the boiler, it will beunderstood that the same arrangement can be used to control gas or steamto supply heat for the boiler, or to control an electric current whichmay be used for heating the regulator or producing the auxiliary heat atJ, or to control the temperature of a condenser, or .for doing any otherwork desired.

I have shown an enlargement D of pipe D, such as a: chamber, adapted totrap air that may escape from fluid therein. It .is preferable thatpipes C, C and D be exhausted practically of air, .which may be done bycharging the pipes full of fluid. To accomplish this conveniently tube Cmay be placed within pipe C and provided with a screw plug C whereby.when the pipes are charged the air passes out through C at the plugorifice. The outflow of fluid through pipe 2 may be governed in anysuitable manner to maintain a desired leve as by an ordinary ball valve.I have shown a pipe 2, open at both ends above and below the level offluid W in boiler A, connected with pipe 2, whereby the fluid will flowout through the lower endof pipe 2 to the exclusion of material upon thesurface of the liquid Wwhich it may be desirable to retain in theboiler, and the open upper end of pipe 2 prevents 'syphoning throughpipe 2.

In order to. preheat the fluid flowing through the boiler. and conservethe heat that would be carried off by the discharge fluid, I' haveshowna heat exchange indicated generally The at L. The heat exchangeshown comprlses a casing provided with two thermally contiguouspassages.

passage l1 shown having pipes L i's' conthe other passage L is connectedwith discharge pipe 2 and outlet pipe 5, the'discharge opening 5' ofpipe 5 being sufficiently high to maintain a desired level of fluid innected with inlet pipe 1? and pipe -I, and

regulator is capable of being set, due to an independent source of heatapplied thereto, would cause a correspondingly constant effeet on thetemperature of the liquid being treated.

- My invention is not limited to the details I of construction setforth, aschanges may be made, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim is v 1. The method oftreating fluid consisting in heating such fluid, confining separatefluid in thermal relation to and heating it by the first named fluid,changing the temperature of said confined fluid by means independent ofthe temperature imparted to it by the first named fluid, and maintain-.ing said fluids at difl'erent temperatures and thereby causing saidconfined fluid to effect regulation of the first named fluid.

2. The method of treating fluid consistingin heating such fluid,confining separate fluid inthermal relation to the first named fluid,applying'auxiliary heat to the coning separate fluid in thermal relationto thefirst named fluid, applying auxiliary heat to said confined fluid,and causing the pressure of such confined fluid to regulate the flow ofthe first named fluid.

.5. The method of controlling the flow of fluid consisting in heatingsuch fluid to a substantially predetermined range, confining separatefluid in thermal relation to steam named fluid, raising the tem eratureof said confined fluid higher than t e temperature of the first namedfluid, and causing the pressure of said confined fluid to regulate theflow of the first named fluid.

6. The method of controlling the flow and .temperature of fluidconsisting in heatin such fluid to a substantially predetermin range,confinin separate u1d in thermal relation to the the heat of the firstnamed fluid, and causing the pressure of the confined fluid to controlthe flow of the first namedfluid.

.7. The method of treating fluid. consisting in heating such fluid,confifning separate fluid having a boiling pointnot less than theboiling point of the first named fluid in thermal relation thereto,raising the temperature of said confined fluid higher than thetemperature of the first named fluid and causing the pressure of saidconfined fluid to effect regulation of the first named fluid. 8. Themethod of treating fluid consisting in applying heat to a body of fluid,causing heated discharge fluid to transmit heat to juxtaposed supplyfluid, confining separate fluid -1n therma relation to the first namedfluid, chan 'n the tem erature oi said confined fluid rom that o thetemperature of said body of fluid, and causing said confined fluid toregulate the flow of the first named fluid.

9. The method of treating fluid consisting' in heating such fluid,confining separate fluid in thermal relation to the first named fluid,applying auxiliary heat to the confined fluid, mamtaining such auxiliaheat applied to said fluid, and utilizing suc auxihary heat applied tosaid confined fluid to aid said first named'fluid in effectingregulation of itself.

10. The method of treating fluid consisting in applgin heat to fluid intransit, causing suc ui while being discharged to transmit heat to thefluid being sup lied,

confining separate fluid in thermal re ation' to the first named fluid,raising the temperature of said confined fluid above that of the firstnamed fluid and causing said confined fluid to regulate the work ofmaintaining such first named fluid at a predetermined temperature. I

11. In a thermo-dynamic regulator, the combination of a fluid container,a thermoactuator in thermal relation to said con taine'r, means forraising said thermO-actu ator to a temperature greater than that apf 1plied to it by said container, and means controlled by saidthermo-actuator for performing work.

12. A thermo-dynamic regulator comprising a fluid container, a chamberin thermal re ation to the container, fluid within said' rst namedfluid, increasing. the heat of said confined fluid above the ehambenmeans' to apply heat to'said chamber to raise its tem erature above theheat' applied to it by sai container, anda mova e member associated withsaidchamber- 13. A thermo-dynamic regulator comprising a fluidcontainer, a. chamber havin va portion located within the heater an aportion extending without the container,

means to appl heat to the exterior portion of said cham r independent ofthe heat ap lied to the chamber by the container and a movable memberassociated with sai chamber. 1

14. The combination of a heater havin inlet. and outlet passages, avalve to contro one of said passages, a movable member to control saidvalve, a closed chamber having a portion within said heater in thermalrelation to fluid therein and havin another portion in communicationwith sai movable member, said .chamber having a portion exterior to theheater, anduneans for applying heatto said exterior portion of the camber independent of the heat applied to the portion of the chamberwithin the heater.

15. The combination of a fluid container, :1 thermo-dynamic actuator inthermal relation to and heated by said container, means independent ofsaid fluid container for changing the temperature of said-actuator whileit is being heated by said container from that imparted to it by theheat from said container, and a movable member associated with saidactuator.

16. The combination of a fluid container, a valve' to control the supplyof fluid thereto, a movable member associated with said valve, athermo-actuator to control said member and in thermal relation to saidcontainer, and means independent of said fluid container for changingthe temperature of said actuator while it is being heated by saidcontainer from the temperature imparted to it by the heat from the fluidin said container.

17 .The combination of a fluid container,

a valve to control the supply of fluid thereto, a movable memberassociated with said valve, a thermo-actuatorto control said -member andin thermal relation to said contamer, and means to apply auxiliary heatto said actuator.

18. The combination of a fluid container, a fluid chamber having aportion in thermal relation to said container, a pipe within saidchamber in open communication with an upper portion thereof, acontrollable outlet for said pipe, and a movable member in communicationwith said chamber and controlled by pressure in said chamber.

19. The combination-of a heat exchange having thermally contiguouspassages, a

fluid container commumcatlng with saidpassages, a valve to control oneof said passages, a movable member to control said Correction in LettersPatent No. 973,150.

valve, a thermo-dynamic actuator to control said member and in thermalrelation to said container, and means to. apply auxiliary heat to saidactuator.

20. The combination of a heat exchange having thermally contiguouspassages, and a heater communicating with said passages, athermo-dynamic regulator, means to ap' ply auxiliary heat to saidregulator, a valve to control the flow'of fluid to the apparatus, andmeans to operate said valve by said regulator.

21. The combination of a fluid container, a thermo-dynamic regulatorcomprising an upwardly disposed chamber containing fluid, the upperportion of which fluid is in thermal relation to heated fluid in saidcontainer, meansfor applying heat to the lower portion of said chamberadditional to the heat applied to said chamber owing to its said thermalrelation to said container, whereby Vapor is generated from the fluid insaid chamber to ascend therein, and

vmeans for employing the pressure of said vapor for control-ling thetemperature of the fluid in said container.

22. The combination of a fluid container, means to heat fluid therein, afluid chamber in thermal relation to said fluid container,

i [SEAL]- means for applying heat to the fluid in said vchamber. belowthe level 'at which vheat is communicated to said chamber from saidcontainer, and means for employing the resultant effect of thethermo-dynamic force of heat applied to the fluid in said chamber fromboth of such heat sources for controlling the temperature of the fluidin said container.

23. A thermo-dynamic regulator comprising a chamber containing fluid,means for applying heat of diflerent temperatures simultaneously to twoseparate portions of the fluid in said chamber, means for causing theresultant pressure of the vapor generated in said chamber by the heatapplied to one portion of it as modified by the temperature of anotherportion of the same to control the temperature of the heat applied toone of the portions of said chamber and means to control separatelydiflerentheats ap lied to said chamber.

igned at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of NewYork, this 27th day of November, A. D. 1909.

ADDISON G. \VATERHGUSE. Witnesses:

' T. F. BOURNE, MARIE F. WAINRIGHT.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 973,150, grantedOctober 18, 1910, upon the application of Addison G. Waterhouse, of NewYork, N. Y., for an improve ment in Methods of and Apparatus for ThermalRegulation, an error appears in 'the printed specification requiringcorrection as follows: Page 4, line 72, for i the word heater readcontainer; andthat the proper corrections have been made in the filesand records of the Patent Oflice and are hereby made in said LettersPatent.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of November, A. D., 1910.

E. B. MooRE, Commissioner 0 7 Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 973,150.

valve, a thermo-dynamic actuator to control said member and in thermalrelation to said container, and means to. apply auxiliary heat to saidactuator.

20. The combination of a heat exchange having thermally contiguouspassages, and a heater communicating with said passages, athermo-dynamic regulator, means to ap' ply auxiliary heat to saidregulator, a valve to control the flow'of fluid to the apparatus, andmeans to operate said valve by said regulator.

21. The combination of a fluid container, a thermo-dynamic regulatorcomprising an upwardly disposed chamber containing fluid, the upperportion of which fluid is in thermal relation to heated fluid in saidcontainer, meansfor applying heat to the lower portion of said chamberadditional to the heat applied to said chamber owing to its said thermalrelation to said container, whereby Vapor is generated from the fluid insaid chamber to ascend therein, and

vmeans for employing the pressure of said vapor for control-ling thetemperature of the fluid in said container.

22. The combination of a fluid container, means to heat fluid therein, afluid chamber in thermal relation to said fluid container,

i [SEAL]- means for applying heat to the fluid in said vchamber. belowthe level 'at which vheat is communicated to said chamber from saidcontainer, and means for employing the resultant effect of thethermo-dynamic force of heat applied to the fluid in said chamber fromboth of such heat sources for controlling the temperature of the fluidin said container.

23. A thermo-dynamic regulator comprising a chamber containing fluid,means for applying heat of diflerent temperatures simultaneously to twoseparate portions of the fluid in said chamber, means for causing theresultant pressure of the vapor generated in said chamber by the heatapplied to one portion of it as modified by the temperature of anotherportion of the same to control the temperature of the heat applied toone of the portions of said chamber and means to control separatelydiflerentheats ap lied to said chamber.

igned at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of NewYork, this 27th day of November, A. D. 1909.

ADDISON G. \VATERHGUSE. Witnesses:

' T. F. BOURNE, MARIE F. WAINRIGHT.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 973,150, grantedOctober 18, 1910, upon the application of Addison G. Waterhouse, of NewYork, N. Y., for an improve ment in Methods of and Apparatus for ThermalRegulation, an error appears in 'the printed specification requiringcorrection as follows: Page 4, line 72, for i the word heater readcontainer; andthat the proper corrections have been made in the filesand records of the Patent Oflice and are hereby made in said LettersPatent.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of November, A. D., 1910.

E. B. MooRE, Commissioner 0 7 Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 973,150.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 973,150. grantedOctober 18, 1910, upon the application of Addison G. Waterlrouse, of NewYork, N. Y., for an improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for ThermalRegulzition, an error appears in the printed kpecification requiringcorrection as follows: Page 4-, line 72, for the word heater readcontainer; and that the proper corrm-tions have been made in the filesand records of the Patent Ofiiee and are hereby made in said LettersPatent.

Signed and healed this 8th day of November, A. D., 1910.

[smut] E. B. MOORE,

Umwzmissz uner 0 f Patents.

